Moving past the confines of typical suburban life

Fate's 2010 Resolutions

While it’s a bit late in January to post this, I still feel a need to continue my yearly ritual of posting the things I’m planning on accomplishing over the new year. This years resolutions are largely related to the purpose of this blog, so I’m going to post them here.

1. Reduce / Eliminate trash at the officeTogether, Fin and I have reduced our monthly trash output (excepting the ongoing project of reducing our junk count) to roughly a single trash bag a month. However, at work, I’m still outputting a considerable amount of junk – mostly disposables associated with eating lunch. My new goal is to start using washable clothes, and silverware at work. It’s way too easy to get caught into the trap of using that stuff when it’s readily available, and everyone else at the office is.

2. Go camping / outdoors more oftenLast year, Fin and I went on two trips where I was camping. This year, I hope to make regular weekends at a couple local lakes / camping grounds. By the end of the year, I’m hoping for a good 6 times this year out camping with Fin.

3. Pay off another debtLast year, I set the goal of paying off some of my college debt. I succeeded, and am hoping again this year to nuke another portion of my college and post college stupidity.

4. Perfect a soap recipe / be able to make commercial quality soapThis will be a series of blog entries on its own, but I’m hoping to create some decent quality soap using cold process techniques. My first batch is currently cooking, and I’ll have a blog entry about this and my reasons for it soon.

5. Return to martial artsFin’s been encouraging me to do this, but the time and cost matrix hasn’t been favorable to it actually happening. Martial arts did a lot of good things for my health and mental state, so I’d really like to get back at it.

6. Post more useful stuff more oftenPart of the original goal of this blog was to post useful information, and post that on a regular basis. However, life’s been in the way, and so, not much has happened in terms of useful content here. Now that things have calmed down a bit, some of that should start happening.

7. Grow and maintain a gardenFin’s downright excited about the idea of having a garden this year, and I’m looking forward to helping. Really, this is more of her resolution, but it’s one that I’m also looking forward to helping with.

8. Release some software / finish a projectI’ve done so many hobby projects, but none of them have hit a point to call it done. The goal this year is to actually accomplish something in that. In either software, or writing, or art, I want to actually accomplish something this year.

9. Finish unpackingThis is really the same goal as last year. I want to be rid of the boxes of junk that have been trailing me around and growing for the past 3 to 4 years. At some point this year, I’d like to say, “hey look, I’m done unpacking”.

10. Grow in maintenance / carpentry / plumbing / etc… skills Now that I find myself in the role of “homeowner”, I can’t call the apartment management company anymore to come fix stuff. My parents were very much the type were doing things around the house meant calling the right professional. I’m hoping to break the trend a bit, and be more self sustaining. So far, no major injuries or limbs lost.